swanson



N0. 6I7,06l. Patented Jan. 3, [8919.

S. F. SWANSON.

WATER WHEEL.

(Application filed Mar. 22, 1898.) (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Shee?! I.

mz' ncnms Prrzns 0a.. vnomu'rmz, WASHINGTON o c No. 6l7,06|. iiatented Jan. 3', W99. 8. F. SWANSON.'

WATER WHEEL.

(Appl canon fi1ed Mar.-22, 1-8981) qNo Model.) 2 Sheets----Sheet 2 M I I "I l Q Swarm? 6203716022 llrrnn Smarts tries.

SIVAN F. SVANSON, OF PUEBLO, COLORADO.

WATER-WHEEL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 617,061, dated January 3, 1899.

Application filed, March 22, 1 898.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, SWAN F. SWANSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Pueblo, in the county of Pueblo and State of Colorado, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in \Vater-Wheels; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The invention has relation to water-wheels, and more particularly to that class of inventions known as tidal motors.

The object of the invention is to provide a machine of this character which shall be simple of construction, durable in use, one which will not be affected by freshets or destroyed by floating ice and logs, one which will enable its bearings to be kept well lubricated, and which will produce an increased power.

lVith these objects in view the invention consists in certain features of construction and combination of parts, which will be hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a view of my invention, showing it located in a stream or river. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view. Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view; and Fig. 4 is a side elevation of one of the hollow columns, a portion of the column being broken away to more clearly illustrate the mechanism therein contained.

In said drawings, 1 denotes the base-plate of the motor, the under side of which is provided with parallel metal strips 2, connected by cross-pieces 3. The spaces between the strips are preferably filled with cement to form a strong base, and piles 4 are connected with this base and are adapted to be driven into the bed of the river or stream.

Rising from the ends of the base are two hollow columns, which are adapted to extend above the high water mark of the river or stream. Journaled between these two columns on a horizontal axis is a water-wheel 5, having a hood or cover 6, which projects down over the front side of said wheel below the axis thereof. It is evident that when the tide is moving in the direction of the arrow at it will pass under the lower edge of the cover and strike the blades of the wheel at a point below the axis of said wheel, thus ro- Serial No. 674,774. (No model.)

tating said wheel. The wheel being arranged below the surface of the water, it is evident that floating bodies, such as ice and logs, will not strike the wheel and damage it.

In order to keep the bearings of the wheel well lubricated and prevent filling up the hollow columns, I have provided each end of the wheelsshaft with a chain-wheel 7, while the upper ends of the hollow columns have similar wheels 8. Chains 9, having buckets 10, connect the wheels 7 and 8. Should any water leak into these columns through the bearings, it will be scooped up by the buckets and thrown into the river, thus enabling a person to climb down into the columns to lubricate the bearings or repair any of the gearing.

One end of the wheel-shaft is provided with a miter-gear 11 in mesh with a similar gear fixed to a shaft 12, journaled in a bracket 13 at the bottom of one of the columns. This shaft 12 extends up through the column and is adapted to transmit the power of the wheel to any machinery or device desired to be driven.

14 denotes a Watergate which is connected to the columns near their lower ends and by means of which the speed of the wheel may be regulated or entirely checked. This gate has rods 15 extending upwardly above the surface of the water, by which the gate is operated.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, the construction and operation of the inven tion will be readily understood without re quiring an extended explanation.

It is evident that should any parts of the gearing become injured or should it be do sired to lubricate the parts a person may easily climb down into the hollow columns, as the same are kept free of water by the buckets, thus enabling the gearing to be kept well lubricated, which would not be the case were it exposed to water.

Having thus described my invention,what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patcut, is

1. In a tidal motor, the combination with the hollow columns, of a water-wheel journaled between said columns, and water-elevators located within said columns and actuated by the rotation of the water-wheel, substantially as set forth.

2. In a tidal motor, the combination with two hollow columns, of a water-wheel journaled between said columns, sprocket-wheels fixed to the ends of the shaft of the waterwheel, similar sprocket-wheels journaled to the upper ends of the hollow columns, chains connecting the sprocket-wheels, buckets secured to said chains, and gearing for transmitting the motion of the wheel to the machine to be driven, substantially as set forth.

3. In a tidal motor, the combination with the hollow columns seated upon a base pro- 

